Systems and methods for vehicle parking management

ABSTRACT

The disclosure provides a parking management system and a parking management method. The parking management system can comprise one or more servers in communication with one or more vehicles. The one or more vehicles can be configured to be shared and utilized by one or more users for transportation. The one or more servers can be configured to receive location data from the one or more vehicles, and determine, based on the received location data and for each vehicle, whether the vehicle is located within one or more predefined parking areas when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completion of a transportation trip by the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to Chinese Application No.201721469802.2 filed on Nov. 7, 2017, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle sharing system is a service that allows people to accessvehicles for shared use for a specified amount of time and/or for aspecified fee. Vehicle sharing has emerged as an innovative form ofpublic transport to provide urban short-distance transportation servicesthat are often underserved by other forms of public transportation.

A dockless vehicle sharing system does not require a docking station. Adockless vehicle sharing system provides increased convenience for usersbecause the vehicles can be parked either at a bike rack or along thesidewalk after the vehicles have been used. However, in some cases,dockless vehicles may sometimes obstruct sidewalks and interfere withpedestrians' right-of-way if the vehicles are improperly parked.

SUMMARY

There is a need to provide improved methods and systems for parkingmanagement of mobile transportation vehicles. A mobile transportationvehicle as described herein may include shared vehicles such as e-bikes,scooters, mobility transportation pods, and the like.

An aspect of the invention is directed to a parking management system,comprising one or more servers in communication with one or morevehicles, wherein the one or more vehicles are configured to be sharedand utilized by one or more users for transportation, and wherein theone or more servers are configured to receive location data from the oneor more vehicles; and determine, based on the received location data andfor each vehicle, whether the vehicle is located within one or morepredefined parking areas in a public space when (1) the vehicle is notin use or (2) upon completion of a transportation trip by the vehicle.

Aspects of the invention also provide a parking management method,comprising receiving location data from one or more vehicles, whereinthe one or more vehicles are in communication with one or more servers,and wherein the one or more vehicles are configured to be shared andutilized by one or more users for transportation; and determining, basedat least in part on the received location data and for each vehicle,whether the vehicle is located within one or more predefined parkingareas when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completion of atransportation trip by the vehicle.

Aspects of the invention also provides a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed,causes a computer to perform a parking management method, the methodcomprising receiving location data from one or more vehicles, whereinthe one or more vehicles are in communication with one or more servers,and wherein the one or more vehicles are configured to be shared andutilized by one or more users for transportation; and determining, basedat least in part on the received location data and for each vehicle,whether the vehicle is located within one or more predefined parkingareas when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completion of atransportation trip by the vehicle.

Aspects of the invention also provide a parking management system,comprising a server and at least one parking management device, whereinthe at least one parking management device is configured to receive afirst signal sent from a target bike and send the first signal to theserver, and wherein the server is configured to (1) receive the firstsignal sent from the at least one parking management device, and (2)determine, based on the at least one first signal, whether a location ofthe target bike is within a preset parking area, wherein a location ofthe preset parking area is associated with a location of the at leastone parking management device.

Aspects of the invention also provide a parking management system,comprising a primary device, wherein the primary device comprises asecond short-range communication unit configured to (1) receive a secondsignal sent from a target bike, and (2) receive a third signal sent fromat least one parking management slave device, wherein the third signalis a fourth signed received by the parking management slave device fromthe target bike, wherein the signal is transmitted based on ashort-range wireless communication protocol; and a controller coupled tothe second short-distance communication unit, the controller beingconfigured to determine, according to the second signal and the thirdsignal, whether a location of the target bike is within a preset parkingarea, wherein a location of the preset parking area is associated with alocation of the primary and slave devices.

Aspects of the invention also provide a parking management system,comprising a primary device located at an edge of a preset parking area,the primary device comprising a fourth short-distance communication unitconfigured to receive a second signal sent from the target bike, whereinthe second signal is transmitted based on a short-range wirelesscommunication protocol, wherein the signal receiving direction of theshort-range communication unit is a preset direction, and wherein thepreset direction covers the preset parking area; and a controllercoupled to the fourth short-distance communication unit, the controllerbeing configured to determine, according to the second signal, whether alocation of the target bike is within the preset parking area.

Aspects of the invention also provide a parking management system,comprising an imaging unit configured to obtain a first image of atarget vehicle when the target vehicle is parked in a predefined parkingarea; a storage unit configured to store therein a second image of thepredefined parking area; and a determination unit configured to comparethe second image with the first image and determine whether the targetvehicle is parked within the predefined parking area.

The systems and methods disclosed herein can be implemented inparticular embodiments so as to realize one or more of the followingadvantages: by identifying and alerting users of shared vehicles topredefined parking areas that comply with local regulations, the systemsand methods described herein can help reduce sidewalk congestion,increase pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety, and reduceunsightly clutter. At the same time, the parking management system andmethods described herein can allow users to park shared vehicles outsideof docking stations, e.g., when nearby docking stations are full or whenno docking stations are nearby, which provides additional flexibilityand convenience to users.

It shall be understood that different aspects of the present disclosurecan be appreciated individually, collectively, or in combination witheach other. Other objects and features of the present disclosure willbecome apparent by a review of the specification, claims, and appendedfigures. Various aspects of the disclosure described herein may beapplied to any of the particular applications set forth below or for anyother types of vehicles and movable objects. Any description herein of abike, may apply to and be used for any movable object, such as anyvehicle.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent asif each individual publication, patent, or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the disclosure are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims. A better understanding of the features andadvantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference tothe following detailed description that sets forth illustrativeembodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, andthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows a parking management system, in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process for determining whether vehicles arelocated within one or more predefined parking areas in a public space,in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a predefined parking area, in accordance with an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process 400 for selecting a target partitionof a predefined parking area in which a user should park a targetvehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B depict examples of a predefined parking area havinga rectangular shape and a plurality of parking management beacons, inaccordance with different embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a predefined parking area having anelliptical shape, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a predefined parking area having an irregularshape, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a computer system that can be configured to implement anycomputing system disclosed in the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes parking management systems and methods for avehicle sharing system. A vehicle sharing system is a system that allowsa plurality of users to share vehicles, e.g., bicycles, electricbicycles, sitting and standing scooters, transportation pods, and thelike, for personal transportation trips. Generally, the vehicles in afleet of vehicles in a vehicle sharing system are widely distributed ina particular geographic region, e.g., city, so that users in thegeographic region can quickly locate and access a vehicle. Generally, auser rents a nearby available vehicle for a predefined or indefiniteamount of time and for a specified fee, e.g., $0.15 per minute. The usercan use the vehicle for a transportation trip during the rental period.Upon completion of the transportation trip, the user can park thevehicle at a docking station or in another predefined parking area, atwhich time the vehicle is available for use by one or more other users.

The vehicle sharing system can include a software application that usersinstall on their mobile devices that allows the users to locate, rent,unlock, and activate available vehicles; plan travel routes; tracktransportation trips; and find docking stations and other predefinedparking areas in which to place vehicles after completing transportationtrips. To provide the above-mentioned functionality, the softwareapplication is configured to communicate, either directly or indirectlythrough a remote server, with the vehicles. For example, the softwareapplication can communicate directly with the vehicles over ashort-range communication network, e.g., Bluetooth network, orindirectly with the vehicles over a long-range mobile network.

There is a need to provide improved systems and methods for parkingvehicles in a vehicle sharing system. Generally, there are not enoughdocking stations to accommodate all vehicles in a fleet of vehicles in avehicle sharing system. Moreover, docking stations that do haveavailable spots may be geographically inaccessible or inconvenient forcertain users to use. To that end, this disclosure describes a docklessparking management system for a vehicle sharing system. The parkingmanagement system includes a server that can receive location data fromone or more vehicles in a fleet of vehicles in a vehicle sharing system.The server can determine whether the vehicles are located withinpredefined parking areas and instruct users to park the vehicles in thepredefined parking areas if they are not. The server can generate thepredefined parking areas using parking regulations for the geographicregion in which the vehicle sharing system operates. For example, theserver can generate predefined parking areas that comply with all cityparking regulations, e.g., parking areas that do not block rights-of-wayand that are not on public property. By instructing users to parkvehicles in predefined parking areas that comply with parkingregulations, the parking management system described herein can reducesidewalk congestion, increase pedestrian, bicyclist, and motoristsafety, and reduce unsightly clutter. At the same time, the parkingmanagement system and methods described herein can allow users to parkshared vehicles outside of docking stations, e.g., when nearby dockingstations are full or when no docking stations are nearby, which providesadditional flexibility and convenience to users.

FIG. 1 illustrates a parking management system 100 of a vehicle sharingsystem, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

The parking management system 100 may include a server 110 that isconfigured to communicate with one or more vehicles (e.g. 120 a through120 n). The vehicles can be configured to be operated by one or moreusers (e.g. 122 a through 122 m). A user is a person who has access tothe vehicle sharing system and who operates a vehicle in the vehiclesharing system. Because there may be more users than vehicles, thevehicles can be configured to be shared among the users. As an example,a first user 122 a can temporarily operate a first vehicle 120 a totravel from one location to another. After the first user 122 a hascompleted the trip, the vehicle 120 a may be made available for use byanother user (e.g. user 122 b and so forth).

The users 122 a-122 m may use instances of client software 124 installedon their respective mobile devices 126 a-126 m, laptop or desktopcomputers, electronic tablets, smart watches, or the like, to share theuse of the vehicles, and to communicate with the parking managementsystem 100. Users 122 a-122 m can download the client software 124 froman app store, e.g., the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Theclient software 124 allows users to locate, rent, unlock, and activateavailable vehicles in the vehicle sharing system; plan travel routes;track transportation trips; and find docking stations and otherpredefined parking areas in which to place vehicles after completingtransportation trips. To provide the above-mentioned functionality, theclient software 124 is configured to communicate, either directly orindirectly through the server 110, with the vehicles 120 a through 120n. For example, the client software 124 can communicate directly withthe vehicles 120 a-120 n over a short-range communication network, e.g.,Bluetooth network, or indirectly with the vehicles over a long-rangemobile network.

The client software 124 can include payment functionality whereby usersenter credit or debit card information for use in renting vehicle time.The client software 124 can also include map functionality that causesthe mobile devices 126 a-126 m to display maps on visual displays of themobile devices. The maps can include roads, buildings, naturalgeographic features, travel routes, the location of available vehicles,and the predefined parking areas, to name a few examples.

The vehicles 120 a-120 n can include non-electric bicycles, electricbicycles, standing scooters, sitting scooters, transportation pods, orthe like. Generally, the vehicles 120 a-120 n are configured toaccommodate a single user and to travel ten or less miles pertransportation trip. The vehicles 120 a-120 n are most often a“last-mile” transportation solution, i.e., a means by which commuterstravel from a public transportation hub to a final destination, e.g., aplace of employment.

Each vehicle can include one or more sensors, including speedometers andaccelerometers, global positioning system (GPS) sensors, radar or LIDARsensors, cameras, and the like. Speedometers and accelerometers cantrack speed and acceleration data and provide that data to users' mobiledevices via the client software 124. GPS sensors can determine thelocations of vehicles. And radar sensors, LIDAR sensors, and cameras cancollect data that can be used to localize and navigate vehicles withrespect to their environment. To that end, each vehicle can also includean on-board computer to process data collected by the above-mentionedsensors.

Each vehicle may also include one or more communication devices that cancommunicate with the server 110 and the mobile device of the respectiveuser who is operating the vehicle. For example, each vehicle can includea short-range communication device, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or ZigBeecommunication device, configured to communicate with the user's mobiledevice, and a long-range communication device, e.g., a mobile networkcommunication device configured to communicate with the server 110 overa mobile network.

The server 110 may include memory 112 that stores a database ofinformation of the parking management system. Generally, the memory 112is static random access memory (SRAM). The memory 112 can be configuredto store map data 114 that defines a geographic region, e.g., a city.Generally, the map data 114 includes a plurality of features, e.g.,highways, roads, bridges, buildings, and natural geographic features,that are each associated with a particular location or range oflocations represented by GPS coordinates. The map data 114 can include aplurality of levels of abstraction of a geographic region. One level ofabstraction may show only major roads and highways and large geographicfeatures. A second level of abstraction may show city blocks, includingminor roads and buildings. And a third level of abstraction may show astreet-level view of a location.

The map data 114 can also define one or more predefined parking areasthat are configured to accommodate one or more types of vehicles. Forexample, the map data 114 can define a range or bounding box of GPScoordinates that demarcate a parking area in the geographic region. Thepredefined parking areas can be two-dimensional areas parallel with theground plane and/or in line with the ground plane. Additionally oralternatively, the predefined parking areas can be three-dimensionalspaces or volumes if, for example, the map data 114 is represented inthree dimensions (e.g. a 3-dimensional map). The predefined parkingareas can have, for example, a rectangular, circular, elliptical, orirregular cross-section, depending on parking regulations and availablespace in the vicinity of each parking area. Generally, each predefinedparking area can accommodate several to several dozen vehicles and has across-section on the order of tens to hundreds of square feet.

The server 110 can generate the predefined parking areas for vehiclesusing rule-based algorithms derived from parking regulations in thegeographic region. Rule-based algorithms include a rule base, i.e.,programmatically defined rules that correspond to the parkingregulations, and an inference engine or semantic reasoner that selectssolutions to the rules from among a set of possible solutions, i.e.,predefined parking areas that satisfy the rules in the rule base fromamong all areas in the geographic region in which the vehicle sharingsystem operates.

For convenience and by way of example, geographic regions will bereferred to below as cities. A given city's parking regulations mayspecify that vehicles, e.g., bicycles, scooters, and transportationpods, may not: (i) block sidewalks, bicycle lanes, or otherrights-of-way; (ii) be within a particular distance, e.g., three feet,five feet, or ten feet, of curbs, private property, cross-walks, orwheel chair ramps; (iii) be parked on certain streets, blocks, orneighborhoods in the city, or (iv) be parked outside of designatedareas.

In some instances, city parking regulations may specify areas in whichparking is forbidden. In some other instances, city parking regulationsmay specify areas in which parking is restricted, e.g., restricted to aparticular class of vehicle. As another example, a parking-restrictedregion may be a region in which only the vehicle from one or morespecific vehicle sharing service providers are allowed to park. As yetanother example, a parking-restricted region may be a region in whichparking vehicles is allowed only during a certain time period.

The memory 112 can maintain areas in which parking is forbidden andareas in which parking is restricted in the map data 114. The memory 112maintains such areas as ranges of coordinates. In some embodiments, theserver 110 can transmit a signal to any vehicle within a predefineddistance, e.g., 500 feet, of such forbidden or restricted coordinateranges, where the signal causes the vehicle to indicate or display awarning to the user of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, theserver 110 can transmit the coordinate range of a forbidden orrestricted area to each vehicle within a specified distance of thatforbidden or restricted area. The server 110 can compute the distancebetween each vehicle and the forbidden or restricted areas using GPScoordinates received from the vehicles.

The server 110 can gather such regulations, e.g., from an onlinedatabase made available by the city, and translate the regulations intothe rule-based algorithms that generate predefined parking areas basedon the city regulations, where the predefined parking areas includepermitted parking areas for one or more types of vehicles. The server110 can translate the parking regulations into rule-based algorithmsusing natural language processing methods known in the art. For example,the server 110 can implement a neural network that was trained totranslate natural language parking regulations into programmatic rulesin a supervised learning environment. Training data for such a neuralnetwork could include sets of example parking regulations andcorresponding programmatic rules that were manually derived from theparking regulations. The above example is not limiting, and the server110 can utilize other natural language processing methods known in theart.

In some implementations, in generating the predefined parking areas, theserver 110 may prioritize certain parking regulations over others. Theserver 110 can prioritize city parking regulations that are particularlyimportant to user or pedestrian safety. For example, the server 110 canprioritize satisfying parking regulations that prohibit vehicles frombeing parked in the street, and can even set more stringent requirementsthan those specified by city regulations, e.g., by generating predefinedparking areas that are farther from the street than required by cityregulations. Additionally or alternatively, the server 110 canprioritize city parking regulations that impose large fines. Forexample, the server 110 can place high priority on not blockingsidewalks, which may constitute an ADA violation.

The server 110 can routinely check the online database of parkingregulations for updated parking regulations, or receive updates wheneverthe online database is updated with new parking regulations or revisionsto existing regulations. If any regulations have changed, the server canupdate the rules-based algorithms and predefined parking areasaccordingly.

In some embodiments, the updated parking regulations include temporaryparking regulations which are valid for a specific period of time in aspecific geographic region. For example, the server 110 a can generate atemporary parking area for a particular event held at a particularplace. The organizer of the event can apply for the temporary parkingarea with a traffic management authority. The application can compriseat least a time period, a date and a geographic region of the temporaryparking area. As another example, a temporary parking-forbidden parkingarea can be set for a particular event held at a particular place. Theorganizer of the event can apply for a setting of the temporaryparking-forbidden area with a traffic management authority. Theapplication can comprise at least a time period, a date and a geographicregion of the temporary parking-forbidden area.

In some embodiments, the updated parking regulations can comprise achange in parameters of an existing parking area. The parameters of anexisting parking area can comprise a geographic region, a shape, apriority, a valid time period, a priority, and/or an allowable type ofvehicle. For example, an existing parking area may only accept a parkingof electric scooters. The updated parking regulations may allow theexisting parking area to accept a parking of transportation pods. Foranother example, an area of an existing parking area may be reduced from1,000 square feet to 800 square feet. For yet another example, a shapeof an existing parking area may be changed from a rectangle to a square.

In some embodiments, the updated parking regulations can compriseremoval of an existing parking area. For example, a request of removingan existing parking area can be applied by an entity or an individual ofinterest with a traffic management authority.

In some embodiments, the updated parking regulations can comprise addingof a new parking area. For example, a new parking area can be added whena new office building is constructed. In some embodiments, the updatedparking regulations can comprise adding of a new parking-forbidden area.For example, a request of adding a parking-forbidden area can be appliedfor by an entity or an individual of interest with a traffic managementauthority.

Some city parking regulations may be time-dependent. For example, someareas may be designated as permitted parking areas at night whenpedestrian traffic is light, but may be designated as prohibited parkingareas during the day when pedestrian traffic is heavy. The algorithmsthat generate the predefined parking areas can be configured toincorporate such temporal restrictions.

The server 110 may include one or more processors 116. The processor(s)116 can be configured to perform computations related to determiningwhether the vehicles 120 a-120 n are located in the predefined parkingareas. For example, the processor(s) 116 can compare the current GPScoordinates of a respective vehicle to the coordinate ranges that definethe predefined parking areas to determine if the vehicle is in one ofthe predefined parking areas.

Generally, the server 110 may be a remote server that can communicatewith the vehicles 120 a-120 n and the mobile devices 126 a-126 m over along-range network, e.g., a mobile network. Alternatively, the server110 can include two or more servers that are each in close proximity toa respective predefined parking area, and configured to communicate withvehicles and mobile devices that are near the predefined parking areaover a short-range network, e.g., a Wi-Fi network, a ZigBee network, ora Bluetooth network.

The parking management system can optionally include one or more parkingmanagement beacons 130 associated with and located in close proximity toone or more of the predefined parking areas. The parking managementbeacons 130 can be mounted to the ground at the boundary, the center, orat another location within the respective predefined parking areas theyare associated with. The parking management beacons 130 can double asvehicle docks, or be connected to vehicle docks. The height of theparking management beacons 130 can be higher than the heights of thevehicles, such that wireless communication between the parkingmanagement beacons 130 and the vehicles is not adversely affected.

The parking management beacons 130 can be in communication with a subsetof vehicles within a predetermined distance. In some instances,short-range communication units of the parking management beacons 130can be configured to monitor broadcast signals from a plurality ofvehicles, and receive or discard the broadcast signals based on anidentification of the vehicles contained in the broadcast signals. Forinstance, the broadcast signals transmitted from the vehicles can carryan identification of the vehicles which varies with respect to variousvehicle-rental service providers. The short-range communication unit candetermine if a vehicle is a target vehicle to be communicated orregulated based on the identification of the vehicle. For example, theparking management beacons 130 can only communicate with those vehiclesfrom one or more predetermined vehicle-rental service providers. Basedon one or more properties of the signals, the server 110 can determinewhether the vehicles are located within one of the predefined parkingareas. For example, based on the strength of the signal and thedirection of its source, the server 110 can use trigonometric principlesto determine whether a vehicle is within a predefined parking area.

The parking management beacons 130 can be capable of communicating withthe server 110. The communication between the parking management beacons130 and the server 110 can be effected with a long-distancecommunication network such as a telecommunication network. For instance,the parking management beacons 130 can include a long-rangecommunication unit configured to communicate with the server. Theparking management beacons 130 can transmit the vehicle information tothe server.

The number of the parking management beacons 130 can be determined basedat least in part on a shape the parking area. One parking managementbeacon 130 can be provided to a parking area if the shape of the parkingarea is circular, half-circular or fan-shaped. For example, one parkingmanagement beacon 130 can be provided at a center point of a circularparking area. Two parking management beacons 130 can be provided to aparking area having a rectangular or elliptical shape. For example, twoparking management beacons 130 s can be respectively provided atmidpoints of opposite sides of a rectangular parking area. For anotherexample, two parking management beacons 130 can be respectively providedat adjacent corner points of a rectangular parking area. For anotherexample, two parking management beacons 130 can be respectively providedat focuses of an elliptical parking area. Two or more parking managementbeacons 130 s can be provided to a parking area having an irregularshape.

A position of parking management beacon 130 with respect to the parkingarea can vary according to a shape of the parking area. The parkingmanagement beacons 130 can be positioned within the parking area. Forexample, the parking management beacons 130 can be positioned within acircular parking area at the center point thereof. The parkingmanagement beacons 130 can be positioned at an edge/boundary of theparking area. For example, the parking management beacons 130 can berespectively provided at a corner point of a rectangular parking area.The parking management beacons 130 can be positioned external to theparking area. For example, the parking management beacons 130 equippedwith a directional antenna can be positioned external to a fan-shapedparking area and communicate with vehicles which are within thefan-shaped parking area.

The server 110 can be configured to have a storage capability to storetherein at least one of a geographical position of the parkingmanagement beacons 130, a number of the parking management beacons 130,a geographical shape of a parking area associated with the parkingmanagement beacons 130, and a parking regulation of the parking areaassociated with the parking management beacons 130. Optionally, theserver can be in communication with a database where at least one of ageographical position of the parking management beacons 130, a number ofthe parking management beacons 130, a geographical shape of a parkingarea associated with the parking management beacons 130, and a parkingregulation of the parking area associated with the parking managementbeacons 130 is stored and/or indexed. The server can be provided withone or more processors configured to process the vehicle informationreceived from the parking management beacons 130. For example, theserver can calculate a geographical position of a vehicle based in parton the vehicle information and determine whether the vehicle ispositioned within the parking area.

In some instances, the server may not store a geographical shape of aparking area associated with the parking management beacons 130. Forinstance, the geographical shape of a parking area can be provided tothe server from the associated parking management beacons 130 togetherwith the vehicle information of the vehicle. The server can calculate ageographical position of a vehicle based in part on the vehicleinformation and determine whether the vehicle is positioned within theparking area associated with the parking management beacons 130. In someinstances, the server may not store a geographical position of theparking management beacons 130. For instance, the geographical positionof the parking management beacons 130 can be provided to the server fromthe parking management beacons 130 together with the vehicle informationof the vehicle. The server can calculate a geographical position of avehicle based in part on the vehicle information and determine whetherthe vehicle is positioned within the parking area associated with theparking management beacons 130.

The server cart be provided with an interface capable of receivinginformation from a vehicle management authority. The information caninclude, for example, an updated parking regulation, an add or removalof a parking area, a change in priority of a parking area, and a changein type of a parking area. For instance, the server can receive andapply an update of parking regulation with respect to a parking areafrom the vehicle management bureau of local government. For instance,the server can receive and apply a change in geographical shape of aparking area. For instance, the server can receive and apply a change inapplicable time period of a parking area.

The parking management beacons can also be equipped with an imagingcapturing device such as a camera. Image processing can be performedlocally or remotely to recognize an image of the parking area and nearbyvehicles and determine if the nearby vehicles are parked within theparking area and with an appropriate orientation/order.

The use of parking management beacons is advantageous because GPScoverage may be poor in certain locations, and because the resolution orprecision of GPS may not be sufficient to comply with city parkingregulations. For example, if a particular parking regulation specifiesthat vehicles must be parked at least three feet from cross-walks, butGPS is accurate to only ten feet, the GPS may lack the precision forvehicles to consistently and fully comply with the parking regulation.In such a case, the use of parking management beacons can supplement theuse of GPS. In some embodiments, however, the GPS sensors use real-timekinematic positioning, which is a satellite navigation technique thatprovides centimeter-level accuracy by measuring the phase of thesignal's carrier wave. In such embodiments, the use of parkingmanagement beacons would not be required unless GPS coverage were poor.Specific instances of the use of trigonometric principles to determinewhether a vehicle is located within a predefined parking area aredescribed in more detail in reference to FIG. 5 through FIG. 7.

Parking regulations may also specify that vehicles should be parkedparallel to sidewalks rather than perpendicular to sidewalks, to avoidobstructing pedestrians' right-of-way. Data from the parking managementbeacons can also be used to determine whether vehicles are orientedproperly (e.g. positions and angles of the vehicles relative to thesidewalks).

In some embodiments, data from other vehicle sensors, e.g., radarsensors, LIDAR sensors, or cameras, can further supplement the GPS dataand data from the parking management beacons to aid the parking ofvehicles in predefined parking areas, particularly when GPS coverage ispoor or when the orientation of the parked vehicle is important. Forexample, parking regulations may prohibit vehicles from parking withinthree feet of a cross-walk. A vehicle equipped with a camera cantransmit collected image data to the server 110. The server 110 can thendetermine, based on the image data and by using image processingalgorithms, e.g., an object detection algorithm in combination with adistance measuring algorithm, whether the vehicle is too close to across-walk as defined by parking regulations in the area, e.g., withinthree feet.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a process 200 for determining whether vehiclesare located within one or more predefined parking areas in a publicspace, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The process200 can be performed by a server, for example server 110 of the parkingmanagement system 100 described with reference to FIG. 1.

The server can be configured to receive location data from one or morevehicles in the geographic region, e.g., a city in which the parkingmanagement system is intended to operate (210). The server and thevehicles may generally communicate with each other over a mobilecommunication network, but can optionally communicate over a short-rangenetwork, e.g., a Bluetooth network, a ZigBee network, or a Wi-Finetwork. Generally, the received location data may include a currentlocation, e.g., in GPS coordinates, of the vehicle. The receivedlocation data can also include an identifier associated with the vehiclethat transmitted the location data. Prior to processing the receivedlocation data, the server can determine whether the identifiercorresponds to a known identifier of a vehicle in a fleet of vehiclesassociated with and managed by the parking management system. Thelocation data of the vehicle can be received when a user of the vehicleattempts to lock the vehicle, for example, when the user completes ariding trip.

Using the received location data, the server can determine whether eachvehicle is located within one or more predefined parking areas in apublic space when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completionof a transportation trip by the vehicle (220). The server can make sucha determination by comparing the location data of the one or morevehicles to one or more predefined parking areas defined in map datastored on the server. For example, the server can determine whether theGPS coordinates of the one or more vehicles are within a range orbounding box of coordinates in the map data that define a predefinedparking area.

In some instances, upon determining that a particular vehicle is locatedwithin a predefined parking area, i.e., the user has successfully andproperly parked the vehicle within a predefined parking area, the serverneed not take further action (230). Additionally or optionally, theserver can transmit a signal to the vehicle that causes the vehicle toindicate to the user that the user had successfully and properly parkedthe vehicle in a valid, predefined parking area. The indication can be avisual or audible indication. In some implementations, the server caninstead transmit the signal to the user's mobile device via the clientsoftware described in reference to FIG. 1. The server can also send alocking instruction to the vehicle to enable a locking mechanism of thevehicle to lock.

In some other instances, upon determining that a vehicle is not locatedwithin one of the one or more predefined parking areas upon completionof a transportation trip, the server can transmit a signal to thevehicle. The signal can be configured to cause the vehicle to indicateto the user that the target vehicle is not located within the one ormore predefined parking areas (240). For example, the target vehicle mayvisually or audibly indicate to the user that the vehicle is not locatedin a predefined parking area. A visual indication may be a flashinglight, or a light of a particular color, for example. In someimplementations, the server can encode parking instructions in thesignal. The vehicle can visually provide those instructions to the user,e.g., by displaying step-by-step written instructions on a visualdisplay of the vehicle, or audibly provide those instructions to theuser through a speaker located on the vehicle. Additionally oroptionally, the server can send one or more the above indications and/orinstructions to the user's mobile device via the client software. Theclient software can cause the user's mobile device to displaystep-by-step written instructions, or can cause the user's mobile deviceto read those instructions to the user. Alternatively or additionally,the server can prevent the vehicle from locking and continue billing forthe trip until the user moves the vehicle to a predefined parking area.

In some embodiments, after a user has completed a transportation tripand successfully/properly parked the vehicle in a predefined parkingarea, the server can optionally reward the user with redeemable pointsor other benefits via the client software installed on the user's mobiledevice (250). Once the user accumulates enough points, the user canredeem the points for a free or reduced-cost trip. By providing such arewards system, the parking management system can incentivize users topark their vehicles in permitted parking areas, thus reducing safetyincidents, fines, and clutter on public sidewalks and streets. In someimplementations, users, in using the parking management system, mayagree to pay any fines imposed by the city due to vehicles that areparked in prohibited parking areas.

FIG. 3 illustrates a predefined parking area 300, in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

The predefined parking area may include one or more partitions (e.g.partitions 310, 312, 314, 316, and 318) in which users can park vehiclesupon completion of transportation trips. In the example shown,partitions 310 and 312 may be occupied by vehicles, while partitions314, 316, and 318 may be unoccupied and available for parking.

In some implementations, each partition may be configured to accommodateno more than one vehicle at a time. The server described with referenceto FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can be configured to determine whether a particularpredefined parking area has one or more partitions that are currentlyunoccupied. As users park their vehicles in partitions of a predefinedparking area after they complete transportation trips, the server mayrecord, in the map data stored on the server, that those partitions arenow occupied. Similarly, as users select, rent and remove vehicles fromthe predefined parking area, the server may record in the map data thatthe partitions from which those vehicles were removed are now unoccupiedand therefore available for parking.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process 400 for selecting a target partitionof a predefined parking area in which a user should park a targetvehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The processcan be performed by the server 110 described with reference to FIG. 1.

If two or more partitions of a predefined parking area are unoccupied(410), as is the case in FIG. 3, the server can select a targetpartition from among the two or more partitions that are unoccupied(420). The server can then provide instructions to the user of thetarget vehicle to park the target vehicle in the target partition (430).As previously described, the server can provide the instructions to thetarget vehicle and/or the user's mobile device. Generally, the servercan select, as a target partition, a partition that minimizes the totalarea that any parked scooters in the predefined parking area occupy. Forexample, the server can be configured to select consecutive or adjacentpartitions for users to place and park vehicles, such that the vehiclessequentially fill up the partitions (e.g. from left to right, or rightto left) as they are being parked. This can help to facilitate theusers' parking of the vehicles, since it is often easier to park avehicle at an available partition at the end of a row of parkedvehicles, as opposed to trying to park in an available partition betweentwo adjacently parked vehicles.

If only one partition in the predefined parking area is unoccupied, theserver can instruct the user to park the target vehicle in thatpartition (440).

In some circumstances, all of the partitions of a first predefinedparking area may be occupied. In such circumstances, the server cantransmit a signal to the target vehicle that causes the target vehicleto (a) indicate to the user that the first predefined parking area isfull, and (b) provide instructions to the user to relocate and park thetarget vehicle in a second predefined parking area that is differentfrom the first predefined parking area (450). The second predefinedparking area may include, for example a predefined parking area that isclosest in distance to the first predefined parking area and that hasspaces/partitions available for parking. Additionally or optionally, thesecond predefined parking area may include a selection of predefinedparking areas that are in close proximity to the first predefinedparking area and that have spaces/partitions available for parking.Alternatively, and as previously described, the server can send theabove indications and/or instructions to a mobile device associated withthe user of the target vehicle via the client software.

In some circumstances, a user may inadvertently park his or her vehiclein multiple partitions, e.g., with the vehicle traversing across two ormore different partitions. The server can determine, based at least inpart on the location data received from the vehicle, that the vehicle isin fact parked traversing across two or more partitions. In response tothat determination, the server can provide a notification/prompt to theuser, e.g., via the user's mobile device, to correct the positioning ofthe target vehicle within the predefined parking area such that thetarget vehicle does not occupy more than one partition. In determiningwhether a vehicle is parked traversing across two or more partitions,the server can, in addition to using GPS data from the vehicle, use datafrom the parking management beacons or from additional sensors on thevehicle.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B depict examples of a predefined parking area havinga rectangular shape and a plurality of parking management beacons, inaccordance with different embodiments of the disclosure.

In the example of FIG. 5A, a plurality of parking management beacons(e.g. B1 and B2) can be respectively positioned at midpoints of oppositesides of the rectangular parking area. The parking management beaconscan each be configured to receive vehicle information from the vehicle Dand transmit the vehicle information to a server as described herein.

In some instances, the vehicle information can comprise a distance fromthe vehicle to each parking management beacon. Distance measuring unitsin the parking management beacons can determine the distances b and c byanalyzing the strength of an uplink signal, e.g., by using a ReceivedSignal Strength Indication (RSSI) ranging method, received from thevehicle D. The distances b and c can then be transmitted to a server viaa telecommunication link such as the internet.

Using the distances, the server can determine whether the vehicle ispositioned within the rectangular parking area. For instance, the servercan determine that the vehicle is positioned within the parking area if(1) a vertical distance from the vehicle to a line connecting the twoparking management beacons is less than a preset value, and (2) anglesformed between the vehicle and the line connecting the two parkingmanagement beacons are both acute angles. The preset value can be ½*d,where d is a length of a side of the rectangular parking area. Thevertical distance and the angles can be calculated using a trigonometricfunction.

Once the server determines that the vehicle is positioned within thepredefined parking area associated with the parking management beacons,the server can provide a confirmation to the parking management beaconsthat the vehicle is within the predefined parking area. Without theconfirmation from the server, the vehicle may not be locked and a feewill be charged if a user of the vehicle attempts to lock the vehicle.The server can additionally send a confirmation to the vehicle itself,or to a mobile device associated with the user of the vehicle.

In the example of FIG. 5B, the two parking management beacons A1 and A2can be respectively positioned at adjacent corner points of therectangular parking area. The parking management beacons can each beconfigured to receive vehicle information from the vehicle D andtransmit the vehicle information to a server as described herein.

The vehicle information can comprise a distance from the vehicle D toeach parking management beacons A1 and A2. The distance information band c can then be transmitted to the server. The server can determinewhether the vehicle is positioned within the rectangular parking area.For instance, the server can determine that the vehicle is positionedwithin the parking area if (1) a vertical distance from the vehicle to aline connecting the two parking management beacons is less than a presetvalue, and (2) angles formed between the vehicle and the line connectingthe two parking management beacons are both acute angles. The presetvalue can be a length of a side of the rectangular parking area. Theserver can determine that the vehicle D is positioned within the parkingarea while the vehicle D′ is not positioned within the parking area,because a vertical distance from the vehicle D′ to a line connecting thetwo parking management beacons A1 and A2 is larger than a length of aside of the rectangular parking area.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of predetermined parking area having anelliptical shape and a plurality of parking management beacons, inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. A plurality of parkingmanagement beacons (e.g. D1 and D2) can be respectively positioned atthe focuses of the elliptical parking area. The parking managementbeacons can each be configured to receive vehicle information from thevehicle D and transmit the vehicle information to a server as describedherein.

The vehicle information can comprise a distance from the vehicle D toeach parking management beacons D1 and D2. The distance information canthen be transmitted to the server which is configured to determinewhether the vehicle is positioned within the elliptical parking area.For instance, the server can determine that the vehicle is positionedwithin the parking area if a sum of distances between the vehicle D andthe two parking management beacons D1 and D2 is less than or equal to alength of the long axis of the ellipse.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a predefined vehicle parking area having anirregular shape in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Theirregular-shaped parking area can be divided into a plurality ofsub-parking areas. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the irregular parkingarea may include three sub-parking areas which are respectively definedby the three parking management beacons A, B and C. Each of thesub-parking areas may be, for example a circular parking area.

The coordinates (x_(a), y_(a)), (x_(b), y_(b)), and (x_(c), y_(c)) ofthe three parking management beacons A, B and C are known. Distancesd_(a), d_(b) and d_(c) from the three parking management beacons A, Band C to the vehicle D can be measured by analyzing the strength of anuplink signal, e.g., by using a Received Signal Strength Indication(RSSI) ranging method, received from the vehicle D. The server candetermine that the coordinate (x, y) of the vehicle D is

$\begin{bmatrix}x \\y\end{bmatrix} = {{\begin{bmatrix}{2\left( {x_{a} - x_{c}} \right)} & {2\left( {y_{a} - y_{c}} \right)} \\{2\left( {x_{b} - x_{c}} \right)} & {2\left( {y_{b} - y_{c}} \right)}\end{bmatrix}^{- 1}\begin{bmatrix}{x_{a}^{2} - x_{c}^{2} + y_{a}^{2} - x_{c}^{2} + d_{c}^{2} - d_{a}^{2}} \\{x_{b}^{2} - x_{c}^{2} + y_{b}^{2} - x_{c}^{2} + d_{c}^{2} - d_{b}^{2}}\end{bmatrix}}.}$

In the example shown in FIG. 7, a coordinate range of the parking areacan be known (e.g., pre-stored at the server or a database incommunication with the server), such that the server can compare thecoordinate of the vehicle D against the coordinate range of the parkingarea and determine whether the vehicle is positioned within the parkingarea.

In some embodiments, the vehicle can be provided with a positioningmodule such as a Global Position System (GPS). The vehicle informationcan comprise the geographical position of the vehicle which is measuredby the GPS module. The server can be configured to compare thegeographical position of the vehicle against the coordinate range of theparking area and determine whether the vehicle is positioned within theparking area.

FIG. 8 shows a computer system 801 that can be configured to implementany computing system disclosed in the present application. The computersystem 801 can comprise a mobile phone, a tablet, a wearable device, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a central server, etc.

The computer system 801 includes a central processing unit (CPU, also“processor” and “computer processor” herein) 805, which can be a singlecore or multi core processor, or a plurality of processors for parallelprocessing. The CPU can be the processor as described above. Thecomputer system 801 also includes memory or memory location 810 (e.g.,random-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), electronicstorage unit 815 (e.g., hard disk), communication interface 820 (e.g.,network adapter) for communicating with one or more other systems, andperipheral devices 825, such as cache, other memory, data storage and/orelectronic display adapters. In some cases, the communication interfacemay allow the computer to be in communication with another device suchas the imaging device or audio device. The computer may be able toreceive input data from the coupled devices for analysis. The memory810, storage unit 815, interface 820 and peripheral devices 825 are incommunication with the CPU 805 through a communication bus (solidlines), such as a motherboard. The storage unit 815 can be a datastorage unit (or data repository) for storing data. The computer system801 can be operatively coupled to a computer network (“network”) 830with the aid of the communication interface 820. The network 830 can bethe Internet, an internet and/or extranet, or an intranet and/orextranet that is in communication with the Internet. The network 830 insome cases is a telecommunication and/or data network. The network 830can include one or more computer servers, which can enable distributedcomputing, such as cloud computing. The network 830, in some cases withthe aid of the computer system 801, can implement a peer-to-peernetwork, which may enable devices coupled to the computer system 801 tobehave as a client or a server.

The CPU 805 can execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions,which can be embodied in a program or software. The instructions may bestored in a memory location, such as the memory 810. The instructionscan be directed to the CPU 805, which can subsequently program orotherwise configure the CPU 805 to implement methods of the presentdisclosure. Examples of operations performed by the CPU 805 can includefetch, decode, execute, and writeback.

The CPU 805 can be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. Oneor more other components of the system 801 can be included in thecircuit. In some cases, the circuit is an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC).

The storage unit 815 can store files, such as drivers, libraries andsaved programs. The storage unit 815 can store user data, e.g., userpreferences and user programs. The computer system 801 in some cases caninclude one or more additional data storage units that are external tothe computer system 801, such as located on a remote server that is incommunication with the computer system 801 through an intranet or theInternet.

The computer system 801 can communicate with one or more remote computersystems through the network 830. For instance, the computer system 801can communicate with a remote computer system of a user. Examples ofremote computer systems include personal computers, slate or tabletPC's, smart phones, personal digital assistants, and so on. The user canaccess the computer system 801 via the network 830.

Methods as described herein can be implemented by way of machine (e.g.,computer processor) executable code stored on an electronic storagelocation of the computer system 801, such as, for example, on the memory810 or electronic storage unit 815. The machine executable or machinereadable code can be provided in the form of software. During use, thecode can be executed by the processor 805. In some cases, the code canbe retrieved from the storage unit 815 and stored on the memory 810 forready access by the processor 805. In some situations, the electronicstorage unit 815 can be precluded, and machine-executable instructionsare stored on memory 810.

The code can be pre-compiled and configured for use with a machinehaving a processer adapted to execute the code, or can be compiledduring runtime. The code can be supplied in a programming language thatcan be selected to enable the code to execute in a pre-compiled oras-compiled fashion.

Aspects of the systems and methods provided herein, such as the computersystem 801, can be embodied in programming. Various aspects of thetechnology may be thought of as “products” or “articles of manufacture”typically in the form of machine (or processor) executable code and/orassociated data that is carried on or embodied in a type of machinereadable medium. Machine-executable code can be stored on an electronicstorage unit, such as memory (e.g., read-only memory, random-accessmemory, flash memory) or a hard disk. “Storage” type media can includeany or all of the tangible memory of the computers, processors or thelike, or associated modules thereof, such as various semiconductormemories, tape drives, disk drives and the like, which may providenon-transitory storage at any time for the software programming. All orportions of the software may at times be communicated through theInternet or various other telecommunication networks. Suchcommunications, for example, may enable loading of the software from onecomputer or processor into another, for example, from a managementserver or host computer into the computer platform of an applicationserver. Thus, another type of media that may bear the software elementsincludes optical, electrical and electromagnetic waves, such as usedacross physical interfaces between local devices, through wired andoptical landline networks and over various air-links. The physicalelements that carry such waves, such as wired or wireless links, opticallinks or the like, also may be considered as media bearing the software.As used herein, unless restricted to non-transitory, tangible “storage”media, terms such as computer or machine “readable medium” refer to anymedium that participates in providing instructions to a processor forexecution.

Hence, a machine readable medium, such as computer-executable code, maytake many forms, including but not limited to, a tangible storagemedium, a carrier wave medium or physical transmission medium.Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magneticdisks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or thelike, such as may be used to implement the databases, etc. shown in thedrawings. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such as mainmemory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media includecoaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires thatcomprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission mediamay take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic orlight waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) andinfrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readablemedia therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk,hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD orDVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any otherphysical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM andEPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wavetransporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such acarrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer may readprogramming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readablemedia may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or moreinstructions to a processor for execution.

The computer system 801 can include or be in communication with anelectronic display 835 that comprises a user interface 840 forproviding, for example, a management interface. Examples of UI'sinclude, without limitation, a graphical user interface (GUI) andweb-based user interface.

Methods and systems of the present disclosure can be implemented by wayof one or more algorithms. An algorithm can be implemented by way ofsoftware upon execution by the central processing unit 805.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatsuch embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerousvariations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilledin the art without departing from the invention. It should be understoodthat various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention describedherein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended thatthe following claims define the scope of the invention and that methodsand structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents becovered thereby.

1. A parking management system, comprising: one or more servers incommunication with one or more vehicles, wherein the one or morevehicles are configured to be shared and utilized by one or more usersfor transportation, and wherein the one or more servers are configuredto: receive location data from the one or more vehicles; and determine,based at least in part on the received location data and for eachvehicle, whether the vehicle is located within one or more predefinedparking areas when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completionof a transportation trip by the vehicle.
 2. The parking managementsystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more servers are furtherconfigured to: transmit a signal to a target vehicle if the targetvehicle is not located within the one or more predefined parking areasupon completion of a transportation trip, wherein the one or morevehicles comprise the target vehicle, and wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the target vehicle to indicate to a user of thetarget vehicle that the target vehicle is not located within the one ormore predefined parking areas and/or cause the target vehicle tomaintain an unlocked status.
 3. The parking management system of claim1, wherein the one or more servers are further configured to: transmit asignal to a mobile device associated with a user of a target vehicle ifthe target vehicle is not located within the one or more predefinedparking areas upon completion of a transportation trip, wherein the oneor more vehicles comprise the target vehicle, and wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the mobile device to indicate to the user that thetarget vehicle is not located within the one or more predefined parkingareas and/or cause a continuation of a charging for the transportationtrip.
 4. The parking management system of claim 1, wherein the one ormore predefined parking areas are defined in map data stored on the oneor more servers.
 5. The parking management system of claim 4, whereinthe one or more servers are configured to determine whether the one ormore vehicles are located within the one or more predefined parkingareas, at least in part by comparing the received location data of theone or more vehicles to the one or more predefined parking areas in themap data.
 6. The parking management system of claim 1, wherein each ofthe one or more vehicles comprises a global positioning system (GPS)sensor configured to determine a location of the vehicle.
 7. The parkingmanagement system of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more predefinedparking areas comprises a two-dimensional area.
 8. The parkingmanagement system of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more predefinedparking areas comprises a three-dimensional space or volume.
 9. Theparking management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predefinedparking areas is configured to accommodate one or more types of vehicle.10. The parking management system of claim 9, wherein the one or morepredefined parking areas comprises a permitted parking area for the oneor more types of vehicle.
 11. The parking management system of claim 9,wherein the one or more types of vehicle comprises a bicycle, a scooter,or a mobility transportation pod.
 12. The parking management system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the predefined parking areas comprisesa plurality of partitions, wherein each partition of the plurality ofpartitions is configured to accommodate no more than one vehicle at atime.
 13. The parking management system of claim 12, wherein the one ormore servers are further configured to determine whether each of theplurality of partitions is unoccupied or occupied by a vehicle.
 14. Theparking management system of claim 12, wherein the one or more serversare further configured to: determine that two or more partitions of theat least one predefined parking area are unoccupied; and in response tothe determination, (1) select a target partition, from among the two ormore partitions that are unoccupied, and (2) provide instructions to auser to park a target vehicle in the target partition.
 15. The parkingmanagement system of claim 14, wherein the one or more servers arefurther configured to (3) determine, based on the received locationdata, whether the target vehicle is properly placed within the targetpartition, and (4) provide a notification to the user to move the targetvehicle if the target vehicle is not properly placed within the targetpartition.
 16. The parking management system of claim 12, wherein theone or more servers are further configured to: (1) determine whether allof the partitions in a first predefined parking area are currentlyoccupied; and upon determining that all of the partitions in the firstpredefined parking area are currently occupied, (2) transmit a signal toa target vehicle, wherein the signal is configured to cause the targetvehicle to (a) indicate to a user of the target vehicle that the firstpredefined parking area is full, and (b) provide instructions to theuser to relocate and park the target vehicle in a second predefinedparking area that is different from the first predefined parking area.17. The parking management system of claim 12, wherein the one or moreservers are further configured to: (1) determine whether all of thepartitions in a first predefined parking area are currently occupied;and upon determining that all of the partitions in the first predefinedparking area are currently occupied, (2) transmit a signal to a mobiledevice associated with a user of a target vehicle, wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the mobile device to (a) indicate to a user of thetarget vehicle that the first predefined parking area is full, and (b)provide instructions to the user to relocate and park the target vehiclein a second predefined parking area that is different from the firstpredefined parking area.
 18. The parking management system of claim 1,further comprising one or more parking management beacons associatedwith at least a first predefined parking area, wherein the one or moreparking management beacons are in communication with the one or morevehicles, wherein each parking management beacon is configured toreceive a signal from the target vehicle, and wherein the one or moreservers are further configured to determine, based on one or moreproperties of the signal, whether the target vehicle is within the firstpredefined parking area.
 19. The parking management system of claim 18,wherein the one or more properties comprise, for each parking managementbeacon, a signal strength and a signal direction.
 20. The parkingmanagement system of claim 18, wherein the first predefined parking areacomprises a rectangular area, wherein the one or more parking managementbeacons comprise two parking management beacons, and wherein each of thetwo parking management beacons is disposed at a midpoint of a respectiveopposite side of the rectangular area.
 21. The parking management systemof claim 18, wherein the first predefined parking area comprises anelliptical area, wherein the one or more parking management beaconscomprise two parking management beacons, and wherein each of the twoparking management beacons is disposed at a focus of the ellipticalarea.
 22. The parking management system of claim 18, wherein the firstpredefined parking area comprises an irregular area, wherein the one ormore parking management beacons comprise at least two parking managementbeacons, and wherein each of the at least two parking management beaconseach defines a portion of the irregular area.
 23. The parking managementsystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more predefined parking areascomprise at least a parking permitted area, a parking restricted area ora parking restricted area.
 24. The parking management system of claim 1,wherein the one or more servers are configured to maintain a map data,and wherein the map data comprise data indicative of the one or morepredefined parking areas.
 25. The parking management system of claim 24,wherein the map data is updated in real time or on a predetermined timeperiod basis.
 26. The parking management system of claim 24, wherein anupdate of the map data comprise at least one of adding a parking area,removing a predefined parking area, and an update on at least oneproperty of the one or more predefined parking areas.
 27. The parkingmanagement system of claim 24, wherein the at least one property of theone or more predefined parking areas comprise at least one of ageographic region, a shape, a valid time period, a priority and anallowable type of vehicle of the one or more predefined parking areas.28. A parking management method, comprising: receiving location datafrom one or more vehicles, wherein the one or more vehicles are incommunication with one or more servers, and wherein the one or morevehicles are configured to be shared and utilized by one or more usersfor transportation; and determining, based at least in part on thereceived location data and for each vehicle, whether the vehicle islocated within one or more predefined parking areas when (1) the vehicleis not in use or (2) upon completion of a transportation trip by thevehicle.
 29. The parking management method of claim 28, furthercomprising: transmitting a signal to a target vehicle if the targetvehicle is not located within the one or more predefined parking areasupon completion of a transportation trip, wherein the one or morevehicles comprise the target vehicle, and wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the target vehicle to indicate to a user of thetarget vehicle that the target vehicle is not located within the one ormore predefined parking areas and/or cause the target vehicle tomaintain an unlocked status.
 30. The parking management method of claim28, further comprising: transmitting a signal to a mobile deviceassociated with a user of a target vehicle if the target vehicle is notlocated within the one or more predefined parking areas upon completionof a transportation trip, wherein the one or more vehicles comprise thetarget vehicle, and wherein the signal is configured to cause the mobiledevice to indicate to the user that the target vehicle is not locatedwithin the one or more predefined parking areas and/or cause acontinuation of a charging for the transportation trip.
 31. The parkingmanagement method of claim 28, wherein the one or more predefinedparking areas are defined in map data stored on the one or more servers,and wherein the one or more servers are configured to determine whetherthe one or more vehicles are located within the one or more predefinedparking areas, at least in part by comparing the received location dataof the one or more vehicles to the one or more predefined parking areasin a map data.
 32. The parking management method of claim 28, whereineach of the one or more vehicles comprises a global positioning system(GPS) sensor configured to determine a location of the vehicle.
 33. Theparking management method of claim 28, wherein at least one of thepredefined parking areas comprises a plurality of partitions, whereineach partition of the plurality of partitions is configured toaccommodate no more than one vehicle at a time.
 34. The parkingmanagement method of claim 33, further comprising: determining that twoor more partitions of the at least one predefined parking area areunoccupied; and in response to the determination, (1) selecting a targetpartition, from among the two or more partitions that are unoccupied,and (2) providing instructions to a user to park a target vehicle in thetarget partition.
 35. The parking management method of claim 34, furthercomprising (3) determining, based on the received location data, whetherthe target vehicle is properly placed within the target partition, and(4) providing a notification to the user to move the target vehicle ifthe target vehicle is not properly placed within the target partition.36. The parking management method of claim 33, further comprising: (1)determining whether all of the partitions in a first predefined parkingarea are currently occupied; and upon determining that all of thepartitions in the first predefined parking area are currently occupied,(2) transmitting a signal to a target vehicle, wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the target vehicle to (a) indicate to a user of thetarget vehicle that the first predefined parking area is full, and (b)provide instructions to the user to relocate and park the target vehiclein a second predefined parking area that is different from the firstpredefined parking area.
 37. The parking management method of claim 33,further comprising: (1) determining whether all of the partitions in afirst predefined parking area are currently occupied; and upondetermining that all of the partitions in the first predefined parkingarea are currently occupied, (2) transmitting a signal to a mobiledevice associated with a user of a target vehicle, wherein the signal isconfigured to cause the mobile device to (a) indicate to a user of thetarget vehicle that the first predefined parking area is full, and (b)provide instructions to the user to relocate and park the target vehiclein a second predefined parking area that is different from the firstpredefined parking area.
 38. The parking management method of claim 28,further comprising: providing one or more parking management beaconsassociated with at least a first predefined parking area, wherein theone or more parking management beacons are in communication with the oneor more vehicles, wherein each parking management beacon is configuredto receive a signal from the target vehicle, and determining, based onone or more properties of the signal, whether the target vehicle iswithin the first predefined parking area.
 39. The parking managementmethod of claim 28, wherein the one or more predefined parking areascomprise at least a parking permitted area or a parking restricted area.40. The parking management method of claim 28, further comprisingmaintain a map data, wherein the map data comprise data indicative ofthe one or more predefined parking areas.
 41. The parking managementmethod of claim 40, wherein maintain the map data comprise at least oneof adding a parking area, removing a predefined parking area, andupdating at least one property of the one or more predefined parkingareas.
 42. The parking management method of claim 41, wherein the atleast one property of the one or more predefined parking areas compriseat least one of a geographic region, a shape, a valid time period, apriority and an allowable type of vehicle of the one or more predefinedparking areas.
 43. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions that, when executed, causes a computer to perform a parkingmanagement method, the method comprising: receiving location data fromone or more vehicles, wherein the one or more vehicles are incommunication with one or more servers, and wherein the one or morevehicles are configured to be shared and utilized by one or more usersfor transportation; and determining, based at least in part on thereceived location data and for each vehicle, whether the vehicle islocated within one or more predefined parking areas when (1) the vehicleis not in use or (2) upon completion of a transportation trip by thevehicle.
 44. A parking management system, comprising a server and atleast one parking management device, wherein said at least one parkingmanagement device is configured to receive a first signal sent from atarget bike and send the first signal to said server, and wherein saidserver is configured to (1) receive said first signal sent from the atleast one parking management device, and (2) determine, based on the atleast one first signal, whether a location of the target bike is withina preset parking area, wherein a location of said preset parking area isassociated with a location of the at least one parking managementdevice.
 45. The parking management system of claim 44, wherein said atleast one parking management device comprises two parking managementdevices, wherein said preset parking area is a rectangular area, andsaid two parking management devices are respectively disposed on amidpoint of opposite sides of the rectangular area; or wherein saidpreset parking area is a rectangular area, and the two parkingmanagement devices are respectively disposed on two adjacent cornerpoints of the rectangular area, and wherein a signal receiving directionof the two parking management devices and said preset parking area arelocated on a same side of the two parking devices; or wherein saidpreset parking area is an elliptical area, and the two parkingmanagement devices are respectively disposed at a focus of theelliptical area.
 46. The parking management system of claim 45, whereinsaid preset parking area is a rectangular area, and wherein said serveris configured to determine that the target bike is within said presetparking area when (1) a vertical distance between the target bike and aline connecting said two parking management devices is less than apreset value, and (2) an angle formed by said target bike and said lineis an acute angle; or wherein said preset parking area is an ellipticalarea, and wherein said server is configured to determine that the targetbike is within said preset parking area when a sum of the distancesbetween said target bike and said two parking management devices is lessthan or equal to a long axis of the ellipse.
 47. The parking managementsystem of claim 44, wherein said parking management device comprises: afirst short-distance communication unit configured to receive said firstsignal from the target bike; and a first wireless communication unitcoupled to said first short-range communication unit, configured totransmit said first signal to the server.
 48. The parking managementsystem of claim 47, wherein a vertical distance between said firstshort-distance communication unit and a horizontal plane is greater thana vertical distance between a signal transmitter of the target bike andsaid horizontal plane.
 49. The parking management system of claim 47,wherein said first short-range communication unit is configured tomonitor a broadcast signal based on a short-range wireless communicationprotocol, receive or discard the broadcast signal according to a bicycletype identifier in the broadcast signal, and use the received broadcastsignal as said first signal.
 50. A parking management system, comprisinga primary device, wherein the primary device comprises: a secondshort-range communication unit configured to (1) receive a second signalsent from a target bike, and (2) receive a third signal sent from atleast one parking management slave device, wherein the third signal is afourth signed received by the parking management slave device from thetarget bike, wherein said signal is transmitted based on a short-rangewireless communication protocol; and a controller coupled to said secondshort-distance communication unit, said controller being configured todetermine, according to said second signal and the third signal, whethera location of the target bike is within a preset parking area, wherein alocation of the preset parking area is associated with a location of theprimary and slave devices.
 51. The parking management system of claim50, wherein the parking management system further comprises at least oneslave device, wherein said slave device comprises a third short-rangecommunication unit configured to receive a third signal sent from thetarget bike and send the third signal to the primary device.
 52. Theparking management system of claim 50, wherein the controller comprises:a distance determining unit coupled to the second short-distancecommunication unit, wherein said distance determining unit is configuredto (1) determine a second distance between the target bike and theprimary device based on the second signal, and (2) determine a thirddistance between the target bike and the slave device based on the thirdsignal; and a determining unit configured to determine, based on thesecond distance, the third distance and a fourth distance between theprimary device and the slave device, whether the target bike is parkedwithin a preset parking area.
 53. The parking management system of claim52, wherein the preset parking area is a rectangular area, and saidmaster device and said slave device are respectively disposed at amidpoint of opposite sides of the rectangular area; or wherein thepreset parking area is a rectangular area, and said master device andsaid slave device are respectively disposed at two adjacent cornerpoints of the rectangular area, and wherein a signal receiving directionof the second short-distance communication unit and said preset parkingarea are located on a same side of the primary device and the slavedevice; or wherein the preset parking area is an elliptical area, andthe primary device and the slave device are respectively disposed at afocus of the elliptical area; wherein one primary device and one slavedevice are provided.
 54. The parking management system of claim 53wherein said preset parking area is a rectangular area, and wherein thedetermining unit is configured to determine that the target bike iswithin said preset parking area when (1) a vertical distance between thetarget bike and a line connecting the primary device and the slavedevice is less than a preset value, and (2) an angle formed by saidtarget bike and said line is an acute angle; or wherein the presetparking area is an ellipse area, and wherein the determining unit isconfigured to determine that the target bike is within said presetparking area when a sum of the second distance and the third distance isless than or equal to a long axis of the ellipse.
 55. The parkingmanagement system of claim 50, wherein the primary device furthercomprises a signal transmitter coupled to the controller, wherein saidsignal transmitter is configured to send an information indicating thatthe controller determines the target bike is not parked within thepreset parking area to a bike management server.
 56. The parkingmanagement system of claim 50, wherein the second short-rangecommunication unit is configured to monitor a broadcast signal based ona short-range wireless communication protocol, receive or discard thebroadcast signal according to a bicycle type identifier in the broadcastsignal, and use the received broadcast signal as said second signal. 57.The parking management system of claim 51, wherein a vertical distancebetween the second short-distance communication unit and a horizontalplane is greater than a vertical distance between the signal transmitterof the target bike and the horizontal plane; and wherein a verticaldistance between the third short-distance communication unit and thehorizontal plane is greater than said vertical distance between thesignal transmitter of the target bike and the horizontal plane.
 58. Theparking management system of claim 50, wherein the second short-rangecommunication unit comprises: a first short-range communication sub-unitconfigured to receive said second signal sent from the target bike; anda second short-range communication sub-unit configured to receive saidthird signal sent from the at least one parking management slave device.59. The parking management system of claim 50, further comprising adisplay module configured to display a boundary of the preset parkingarea and a parking position of a bike; or, to display a advertisementscreen.
 60. A parking management system, comprising: a primary devicelocated at an edge of a preset parking area, the primary devicecomprising a fourth short-distance communication unit configured toreceive a second signal sent from the target bike, wherein said secondsignal is transmitted based on a short-range wireless communicationprotocol, wherein the signal receiving direction of the short-rangecommunication unit is a preset direction, and wherein the presetdirection covers the preset parking area; and a controller coupled tothe fourth short-distance communication unit, said controller beingconfigured to determine, according to the second signal, whether alocation of the target bike is within said preset parking area.
 61. Theparking management system of claim 60, wherein an antenna of the fourthshort-range communication unit is a directional antenna having a setdirection, or, wherein said fourth short-range communication unitfurther comprises a shield configured to limit an antenna receivingdirection of the short-range communication unit in the preset direction.62. The parking management system of claim 60, wherein saidpredetermined parking area is a rectangular area, and wherein saidprimary device is located at an edge or corner point of said rectangulararea.
 63. A parking management system, comprising: an imaging unitconfigured to obtain a first image of a target vehicle when the targetvehicle is parked in a predefined parking area; a storage unitconfigured to store therein a second image of the predefined parkingarea; and a determination unit configured to compare the second imagewith the first image and determine whether the target vehicle is parkedwithin the predefined parking area.
 64. The parking management system ofclaim 63, comprising a parking management device provided within thepredefined parking area and the target vehicle, wherein the parkingmanagement device comprises a short-distance communication unit, thestorage unit and the determination unit, wherein the target vehiclecomprises the imaging unit, the imaging unit being configured toautomatically obtain the first image when the target vehicle is parkedin the predefined parking area, and wherein the short-distancecommunication unit is configured to receive the first image from thetarget vehicle.
 65. The parking management system of claim 64, whereinthe predefined parking area is a parking area positioned within apredetermined distance from the target vehicle, and wherein the firstimage comprises an image of the predefined parking area captured from anarbitrary angle.
 66. The parking management system of claim 63,comprising a parking management device provided within the predefinedparking area, the target vehicle and a server, wherein the targetvehicle comprises the imaging unit, wherein the parking managementdevice comprises a short-distance communication unit and a firstlong-distance communication unit, the short-distance communication unitbeing configured to obtain the first image of the target vehicle, thefirst long-distance communication unit being configured to transmit thefirst image to the server, and wherein the server comprises the storageunit and the determination unit.
 67. The parking management system ofclaim 63, comprising the target vehicle and a server, wherein the targetvehicle comprises the imaging unit and a second long-distancecommunication unit, wherein the server comprises the storage unit andthe determination unit, and wherein the second long-distancecommunication unit transmits the first image to the server.
 68. Theparking management system of claim 67, wherein the target vehiclecomprises a positioning unit configured to a geographic position of thetarget vehicle, and the second long-distance communication unit isfurther configured to transmit the geographic position of the targetvehicle to the server, and wherein the server comprises a retrievingunit configured to retrieve the second image of a parking area within apredetermined distance from the target vehicle.
 69. The parkingmanagement system of claim 68, wherein the target vehicle comprises alocking unit configured to generate a locking signal once the targetvehicle is locked, wherein the second long-distance communication unitis further configured to transmit the locking signal to the server, andwherein the server is configured to trigger the determination unit todetermine whether the target vehicle is parked within the predefinedparking area once receiving the locking signal and the first image. 70.The parking management system of claim 69, wherein the imaging unitcaptures images once the locking signal is generated.
 71. The parkingmanagement system of claim 67, further comprising a user terminalassociated with a user who parks the target vehicle in the predefinedparking area, wherein the server further comprises a rewarding unitconfigured to send a predetermined reward to the user terminal when adetermination that the target vehicle is parked in the predefinedparking area is made.